The Class of 2024

NHS Grads

There were 290 who walked in the NHS grad ceremony on June 7 at Loran Douglas Field, three of whom had earned their GED, while 241 received a diploma from NHS, 24 attended Chehalem Online Academy (COA), and 17 attended Catalyst. All of them had close ties to the Tigers in common. As always, the ceremony concluded with the tossing of mortarboards in the air and students walking off into their respective futures. Counselor Angela Kantz sees great things on the horizon for the resilient Class of 2024.

“They lost half of their middle school years and started the biggest K-12 transition at home on a screen, Kantz said. “When they came back in the buildings they had to wear masks and social distance. They had to relearn what it meant to be a student in the classroom when the stakes were high: graduation on the line! We are very proud of every single one of the graduates walking across the stage this year. They each have their own journey to get here yet they have the common bonds of the past four years and what was happening in our world and in our local community. We wish the very best for the class of 2024! I have no doubt they can do anything that they set out to do.”

Catalyst and COA Grads and GED Recipients

Catalyst, Chehalem Online Academy (COA), and GED recipients enjoyed a commencement event on June 6 at NHS’s Drea Ferguson Auditorium. The ceremony featured 44 Catalyst students who had earned a diploma or GED and 28 COA grads. High points included a speech by Principal Chris Stevens in which he expressed confidence in their ability to shine in whatever they plan to do in life and joyous cheering from the appreciative crowd. The school also announced three winners, including a description for both awards:

• Phoenix: The phoenix, as you may know, is known for rising from the ashes, and creating new life out of the wreckage. The following students have demonstrated intense grit and resilience, forging a bright future and creating their own stories out of the past by taking advantage of second chances: Hailie Walkowiak and Amelia Kane-Morley
• Student of the Year: This award goes to a student who has been a stand-out student throughout this year. They have demonstrated academic excellence, built strong interpersonal connections with students and staff alike, and made a lasting impact on Catalyst. We are all incredibly proud of the growth we've been able to see and be a part of, both academically and personally, during this student's time at Catalyst. Luke Nelson

SAIL: Moving on up!

Students in the Support Advocacy for Independence in Life (SAIL) celebrated their completion of the program on June 5. SAIL is designed for students, ages 18 to 21, who experience disability and are seeking to gain additional life skills and vocational skills to become more independent. The SAIL completers in 2024 were Mykel Boyd, Elizabeth Sauceda, Amogh Channapatna, and Johnathan Davila-Outwater.

This list includes all of the graduates in the Class of 2024, including students who attend Catalyst, COA, and NHS graduates, and the GED completers.